Ephesians 1:19

Ephesians 1:19

And what is the exceeding greatness of his power to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power,

a. NLT: I also pray that you will understand the incredible greatness of God’s power for us who believe him. This is the same mighty power

b. NIV: And his incomparably great power for us who believe. That power is the same as the mighty strength

c. YLT: And what the exceeding greatness of His power to us who are believing, according to the working of the power of His might,

d. Amplified Bible Classic: And [so that you can know and understand] what is the immeasurable and unlimited and surpassing greatness of His power in and for us who believe, as demonstrated in the working of His mighty strength,

e. Worrell Translation: And what surpassing greatness of His power toward us who believe, according to the working of the strength of His might.

f. Wuest Translation: And what is the superabounding greatness of His inherent power to us who are believing ones as measured by the operative energy of the manifested strength of His might.

g. Peshitta Eastern Text: And what is the exceeding greatness of his power in us as the result of the things we believe, according to the skill of his mighty power.

1. “And what is the exceeding greatness of his power…”

a. And [Strong: 2532 kai kahee apparently, a primary particle, having a copulative and sometimes also a cumulative force; and, also, even, so then, too, etc.; often used in connection (or composition) with other particles or small words:--and, also, both, but, even, for, if, or, so, that, then, therefore, when, yet.]

b. what [Strong: 5101 tis tis probably emphatic of 5100; an interrogative pronoun, who, which or what (in direct or indirect questions):--every man, how (much), + no(-ne, thing), what (manner, thing), where (-by, -fore, -of, -unto, - with, -withal), whether, which, who(-m, -se), why.]

c. is the [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. exceeding [Strong: 5235 huperballo hoop-er-bal'-lo from 5228 and 906; to throw beyod the usual mark, i.e. (figuratively) to surpass (only active participle supereminent):--exceeding, excel, pass.]

e. greatness [Strong: 3174 megethos meg'-eth-os from 3173; magnitude (figuratively):--greatness.]

f. of his [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

g. power [Strong: 1411 dunamis doo'-nam-is from 1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):--ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.]

1). In the previous verses, the Apostle Paul prayed that for the church to get a spirit of wisdom and revelation in regards to all that Christ Jesus accomplished for us in His death and resurrection.  

a). Ephesians 1:15-17 Wherefore I also, after I heard of your faith in the Lord Jesus, and love unto all the saints,

1:16 Cease not to give thanks for you, making mention of you in my prayers;

1:17 That the God of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Father of glory, may give unto you the spirit of wisdom and revelation in the knowledge of him:

b). In this part of the verse he prays for the church to get a revelation of “the exceeding greatness of his power”.

(1) exceeding [Strong: 5235 huperballo hoop-er-bal'-lo from 5228 and 906; to throw beyod the usual mark, i.e. (figuratively) to surpass (only active participle supereminent):--exceeding, excel, pass.] [Thayer: to surpass in throwing, to throw over or beyond any thing, to transcend, surpass, exceed, excel, excelling, exceeding.]

(2) greatness [Strong: 3174 megethos meg'-eth-os from 3173; magnitude (figuratively):--greatness.] [Thayer: greatness.]

(3) power [Strong: 1411 dunamis doo'-nam-is from 1410; force (literally or figuratively); specially, miraculous power (usually by implication, a miracle itself):--ability, abundance, meaning, might(-ily, -y, -y deed), (worker of) miracle(-s), power, strength, violence, mighty (wonderful) work.] [Zodhiates: Power, especially achieving power. All the words derived from the stem duna- have the meaning of being able, capable.] [Note: where we get the English word for dynamite.]

(4) The “power” exceeds great. Look at the Greek words. We use the phrases “hyper’ and “mega” all the time in American culture. There is even a lottery that includes multiple states called “megamillions”. We know what these words mean, lets apply and understand them in light of the New Covenant.

2). Before we go any further I want to just touch the surface of the phrase “the exceeding greatness of his power”. As we go through the next verses we will get a more fuller picture, but for now lets just touch the surface. The death and resurrection of Christ was the “shock and awe” of the spiritual realm. Shock and Awe is a military doctrine that teaches you to use overwhelming dominance at the beginning of a fight to basically stun your adversary to the degree that before he knows what is going on he is already defeated. When God raised Jesus from the dead it was a kind of shock and awe. The amount of power used in the resurrection was so great that it caused incomprehensible collateral damage that is still being experienced today 2000 years later and will be experienced for all of eternity. When Jesus was raised from the dead, the amount of power exercised was so great that there were others who were physically raised also. Notice carefully the wording of these verses.

a). Matthew 27:50-53 Jesus, when he had cried again with a loud voice, yielded up the ghost.

27:51 And, behold, the veil of the temple was rent in twain from the top to the bottom; and the earth did quake, and the rocks rent;

27:52 And the graves were opened; and many bodies of the saints which slept arose,

27:53 And came out of the graves after his resurrection, and went into the holy city, and appeared unto many.

3). Notice that at the death of Christ an earthquake occurred simultaneously and caused graves to be opened. Notice also those in the graves did not come out of the grave until after His resurrection. Some translations have the wrong wording concerning the passage in Matthew 27:50-53, some saying that the individuals were raised to life at Jesus death. The fact is though, it was impossible for them to be raised before Him.

a). Isaiah 26:19  Thy dead men shall live, together with my dead body shall they arise. Awake and sing, ye that dwell in dust: for thy dew is as the dew of herbs, and the earth shall cast out the dead.

b). As we shall see this is only the tip of the ice berg so to speak because the shock waves are still being felt today and will be felt for eternity.  

2. “…to us-ward who believe, according to the working of his mighty power…”

a. to [Strong: 1519  eis ice a primary preposition; to or into (indicating the point reached or entered), of place, time, or (figuratively) purpose (result, etc.); also in adverbial phrases:--(abundant-)ly, against, among, as, at, (back-)ward, before, by, concerning, + continual, + far more exceeding, for (intent, purpose), fore, + forth, in (among, at, unto, -so much that, -to), to the intent that, + of one mind, + never, of, (up-)on, + perish, + set at one again, (so) that, therefore(-unto), throughout, til, to (be, the end, -ward), (here-)until(-to), ...ward, (where-)fore, with. Often used in composition with the same general import, but only with verbs (etc.) expressing motion (literally or figuratively).]

b. us-ward [Strong: 2248 hemas hay-mas' accusative case plural of 1473; us:--our, us, we.]

c. who [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

d. believe [Strong: 4100 pisteuo pist-yoo'-o from 4102; to have faith (in, upon, or with respect to, a person or thing), i.e. credit; by implication, to entrust (especially one's spiritual well-being to Christ):--believe(-r), commit (to trust), put in trust with.]

e. according to [Strong: 2596 kata kat-ah' a primary particle; (prepositionally) down (in place or time), in varied relations (according to the case (genitive, dative or accusative) with which it is joined):--about, according as (to), after, against, (when they were) X alone, among, and, X apart, (even, like) as (concerning, pertaining to touching), X aside, at, before, beyond, by, to the charge of, (charita-)bly, concerning, + covered, (dai-)ly, down, every, (+ far more) exceeding, X more excellent, for, from ... to, godly, in(-asmuch, divers, every, -to, respect of), ... by, after the manner of, + by any means, beyond (out of) measure, X mightily, more, X natural, of (up-)on (X part), out (of every), over against, (+ your) X own, + particularly, so, through(-oughout, -oughout every), thus, (un-)to(-gether, -ward), X uttermost, where(-by), with1. In composition it retains many of these applications, and frequently denotes opposition, distribution, or intensity.]

f. the [Strong: 3588 * ho ho, including the feminine he hay, and the neuter to to in all their inflections; the definite article; the (sometimes to be supplied, at others omitted, in English idiom):--the, this, that, one, he, she, it, etc.]

g. working [Strong: 1753 energeia en-erg'-i-ah from 1756; efficiency ("energy"):--operation, strong, (effectual) working.]

h. of his [Strong: 846 autos ow-tos' from the particle au (perhaps akin to the base of 109 through the idea of a baffling wind) (backward); the reflexive pronoun self, used (alone or in the comparative 1438) of the third person , and (with the proper personal pronoun) of the other persons:--her, it(-self), one, the other, (mine) own, said, (self-), the) same, ((him-, my-, thy- )self, (your-)selves, she, that, their(-s), them(-selves), there(-at, - by, -in, -into, -of, -on, -with), they, (these) things, this (man), those, together, very, which.]

i. mighty [Strong: 2479 ischus is-khoos' from a derivative of is (force; compare eschon, a form of 2192); forcefulness (literally or figuratively):--ability, might(-ily), power, strength.]

j. power [Strong: 2904 kratos krat'-os perhaps a primary word; vigor ("great") (literally or figuratively):--dominion, might(-ily), power, strength.]

1). This power of God that exceeds great, is given to those who believe in it when it was exercised to raise Jesus from the dead. This is exactly what happens when a person gets born again.

a). Romans 10:8-10 But what saith it? The word is nigh thee, even in thy mouth, and in thy heart: that is, the word of faith, which we preach;

10:9 That if thou shalt confess with thy mouth the Lord Jesus, and shalt believe in thine heart that God hath raised him from the dead, thou shalt be saved.

10:10 For with the heart man believeth unto righteousness; and with the mouth confession is made unto salvation.

2). This same power is given to the believer. Believing God and believing in His power is how Abraham was imputed the righteousness of God, but as Romans declares, this example was not just for Abraham alone but for all who believe on God who raised Jesus from the dead. Note closely in this passage though that the justification, our justification occurs when Jesus was raised from the dead not when we believed.

a). Romans 4:22-25 And therefore it was imputed to him for righteousness.

4:23 Now it was not written for his sake alone, that it was imputed to him;

4:24 But for us also, to whom it shall be imputed, if we believe on him that raised up Jesus our Lord from the dead;

4:25 Who was delivered for our offences, and was raised again for our justification.

b). imputed [Strong: 3049 logizomai log-id'-zom-ahee middle voice from 3056; to take an inventory, i.e. estimate (literally or figuratively):--conclude, (ac-)count (of), + despise, esteem, impute, lay, number, reason, reckon, suppose, think (on).] [Thayer: to reckon, count, compute, calculate, count over to take into account, to make an account of metaphorically to pass to one's account, to impute.] [Law definition: to ascribe to or charge (a person) with an act or quality because of the conduct of another over whom one has control or for whose acts or conduct one is responsible.]

c). Our justification, the whole world’s justification in the mind of God was accomplished when Jesus was raised from the dead, but it will not be imputed to us unless we believe on God who raised Jesus from the dead.

3). The justification of man was accomplished when Jesus was raised from the dead and is the grace of God. We partake of that grace when we enter into it by faith, by believing that God raised Jesus from the dead.

a). Romans 5:1, 2 Therefore being justified by faith, we have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ:

5:2 By whom also we have access by faith into this grace wherein we stand, and rejoice in hope of the glory of God.

b). Romans 3:21, 22 But now the righteousness of God without the law is manifested, being witnessed by the law and the prophets;

3:22 Even the righteousness of God which is by faith of Jesus Christ unto all and upon all them that believe: for there is no difference:

c). In light of these truths it is easier to understand the rest of the passage.